As the second most prominent tennis player of the Arab World, Egyptian Mayar Sherif shares her feelings about the ongoing war in the Middle East: “The world values money and power more than humanity”.
Sherif, world No. 66, criticizes the women’s tennis ecosystem for not getting as involved in the situation as it did with the war in Ukraine, a highly influential topic in the sport over the past seasons.
“There has been a lot of talk about Ukraine and Russia, but nothing about the Middle East. Not between players, nothing with the WTA executives. They don’t do anything”, she told CLAY in an interview.
Coming back from injuries, the 28-year-old player has signed a successful Latin America swing of 125 tournaments. In Chile, where this conversation took place, she won the doubles titles and made semifinals in singles; in Argentina she claimed the crown, and finished as a runner-up in doubles.
Interview with Mayar Sherif
– What are your feelings at the end of this year? It wasn’t an easy season for you.
– The truth is that it has been a very hard year. I have had two or three injuries, so they did not allow me to find a good rhythm of games. I have played well on clay this year, but I have not finished well in the end due to injury. I had to stop for four months or more during the year. I am happy that I am making a restart. Chile makes me feel like at home. I am trying to find my best form again, feel better on the court, move better. Physically I feel good.
– Do you feel that you can return to your best version in 2025?
– Of course, that is the plan. Playing this tour in South America helps to find rhythm and good sensations. So we enter 2025 with some matches in my body, with an extra confidence. I want to start the season in Australia feeling good and I’m in a good path.
– We spoke in our last interview about the war in Gaza and how the world of tennis has dealt with that. How do you think that situation has evolved from then?
– It is still very hard to see how the world is moving now. It is very hard for me. Last year I suffered a lot and I still suffer. I see injustice in the world in general, to the Palestinian people. The world values money and power more than humanity. That mentally hurts me.
– You also made a strong comparison between how the WTA has addressed the war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict. Could you delve deeper into how is this approached in the locker room? Does players, coaches and tournament directors talk about this?
– Many players do not know the conflict between Palestine and Israel, I think. But in general that is not talked about much. There has been a lot of talk about Ukraine and Russia, but nothing about the Middle East. Not between players, nothing with the WTA executives. They don’t do anything. Polititians do nothing. The world does nothing. Why WTA is going to do something that the world does not care? Nobody is moved for injustice.
– Is there something you feel you can still do, even if it’s just a small contribution to such a big issue?
– I can’t, we tried. We have tried to talk to the WTA, but they have not done anything.
– What was their answer?
– The answer was that there were not many players of Israel in the top 100. They did not want to get into any trouble. That was the excuse.
– As the top Arab player, has Ons Jabeur also be pushing like you on this topic?
– I do not want to talk about this on her behalf. But I know that she knows the conflict very well and I know how supportive with the people of Palestine she is. We try to talk to each other to do something, but our strength is not enough. The world does not do anything, there is nothing to support us. We try to do the best we can, but…
– Jabeur also struggled with a bad year because of injuries. Do you think she will return to her best level? Can she comeback to the biggest finals?
– Sorry. If you want to ask me something about me, ask me, but I do not want to talk about other people, other players.
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– Sure. Aside from staying healthy, do you set any ranking goals for yourself?
– No. The only goal is playing well and enjoy. I know I have the level to make great things. I know I’m a very tough player, so if I find confidence I know I can achieve whatever I propose to myself.
– You are a star in Egypt, and the Arab world recognizes you as a role model. How do you handle that status?
– It’s hard, but at the same time, it’s a beautiful responsibility, because I’ve reached things that no one has reached in Egypt, and I want to keep getting further, so that people can see that this is not that far away. New generation in Egypt, the Arab world, in Africa, all the children around the world who do not have good facilities, or who do not have support, or who do not have money, they dream with big goals. My message to them is that is very important to believe that you can get there, that there is a chance.
